Jillian Leddra

Violin Teaching Advisor

Jillian Leddra was brought up in New Zealand and studied the violin in Australia. After graduating she played professionally in both an opera and a ballet orchestra. She was offered a scholarship to do a Masters in Performance and Teaching (Suzuki) with John Kendall in the USA. Her training included teaching at summer workshops and conferences, both national and international, around the USA. Whilst in the USA she was also fortunate to be coached in chamber music by the Beaux Art Trio, building on the coaching she had received from the Coull Quartet in Australia.

The first groups she taught in the UK were at the London Suzuki Group building in Bayswater, where the children also had Kodály classes with Yuko Vinden. Before long they outgrew this and subsequent buildings. Now they are based at the St Marylebone School where they are known as the Bayswater Suzuki Group and have around 80 children who play either violin or cello. As well as group and orchestral playing the Bayswater Suzuki Group puts on an annual concert given by all pupils as well as performances given by soloists. Jillian also runs three summer music courses.